While Democrats push strong anti-gun legislation, a Republican-backed bill would authorize Colorado public school boards to allow permitted employees to carry concealed weapons in schools.

Jan. 21, 2013

Larimer County Sheriff's Sgt. Rafael Sanchez uses a retrofitted gun Thursday while working through the office's new use-of-force firearms training simulation made by Golden-based company Ti Training. / Rich Abrahamson/The Coloradoan

Senate Bill 13-009: Facts and next steps

• The bill would authorize a school district board of education or charter school governing board to decide whether to allow an employee to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds, if the employee holds a valid concealed carry permit. The Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1990 currently bars this. • The bill does not mandate that educators acquire a concealed carry permit or carry a concealed handgun in schools. If passed, individual school boards would decide whether and how to implement the law. Due to PSD’s governance structure, the superintendent and staff would make that call, though the school board could intervene in the decision if deemed necessary. • The bill goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee Jan. 28. Check Coloradoan.com for a follow-up story at that time.

Poudre School District reaction

Poudre School District Board of Education members were asked by the Coloradoan how they would vote, should SB 13-009 be made law in Colorado. Here’s how they responded: • President Tom Balchak: “Now that a bill has been introduced, it’s important to let the process unfold. You can be sure the PSD board, CASB, and other boards in the state are monitoring the bill’s progress, and will respond appropriately if passed. Responding appropriately for me means looking at the benefits, for whom, and at what cost. Implementing legislation if passed would not be up to me as an individual board member, but would be decided by a majority of members after serious informed deliberation.” • Jim Hayes: “The devil is in the details. I support the concept, but we would need to establish conditions and details that work for PSD. I have not thought about those details.” • Susan Gutowsky: Did not give a yes or no answer but did say she “feels comfortable” with the security measures and presence of school resource officers in PSD schools. Gutowsky supports the Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1990. • Patrick Albright: “I definitely support SB 13-009, and if it becomes law, I would support adopting a policy in PSD that would allow teachers and staff to carry on their persons, should they choose to do so. It is not a mandate; it allows flexibility for school districts to decide for themselves how best to protect their students and staff. No one ever wants to hear about another school rampage like Newtown or Columbine.” • Cathy Kipp: “No. I do not support that legislation.” Hearing from people on both sides of the aisle, Kipp said “there’s just too many” incidents of reported accidental shootings. She said it’s an extremely complex issue that would require a significant amount of discussion. • Nancy Tellez: Did not return a call for comment. Editor’s note: Board member James Ross resigned from the school board two weeks ago and wasn’t interviewed for this article.

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Imagine this: A man holding a gun enters a Fort Collins school, threatening the lives of hundreds of adults and children.

The armed school resource officer is off-campus at a meeting, unable to defend his or her keep. But a librarian sorting books nearby realizes what’s happening, draws a concealed handgun and neutralizes the assailant before a path of destruction is laid.

With the introduction of Senate Bill 13-009, some Colorado lawmakers would give public educators the option of being on level ground with would-be attackers. The Republican-backed bill would authorize public school district boards to decide whether to allow employees to carry concealed handguns on school grounds, if they hold a valid concealed carry permit.

The Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1990 currently bars civilians from carrying guns in school buildings or on school grounds. Those permitted to carry firearms in school zones are sworn peace officers and armed guards with the approval of their school or governing board.

Following the fatal shootings of 26 students and educators Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary, in Newtown, Conn., Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, believes the bill he’s backing — not President Barack Obama’s proposed bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines — is one among several means to protect against further school shootings.

“I would want to give teachers the opportunities to keep themselves and their students safe,” said Renfroe, who sponsored the bill with Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, and Rep. Lori Saine, R-Dacono.

If the bill were to become law, public school boards would be able to require employees with concealed carry permits to undergo more training than is currently required by state statute to carry firearms at their schools. Employees wouldn’t be required to carry concealed weapons; it would be a choice made by valid permit holders and approved by their respective boards, Renfroe added.

While Fort Collins Police Services Chief John Hutto said it’s not “appropriate for me to offer an opinion on pending legislation,” he added that law enforcement officers undergo “many, many hours of initial and ongoing weapons training.”

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The current requirements for a concealed handgun license do not require this same rigor, he said, adding, “The potential for creating another category of hazard in our schools should be considered when drafting the training requirements in conjunction with any proposed changes in the law.”

Sheriff Justin Smith believes the bill’s proposition “merits some discussion and consideration,” adding he didn’t “see anything wrong” with the idea of awarding a “law-abiding” teacher, willing to protect his or her students, the right to carry a concealed handgun in school.

Should the bill pass the state’s Democrat-controlled Legislature, Smith said he would “be willing to provide (teachers) the necessary training to protect kids” that went beyond what is required of concealed carry permit holders. While more discussions would have to occur, Smith offered up his office’s new firearms training simulator made by Golden-based company Ti Training.

While Smith believes having an armed resource officer at each school doesn’t guarantee safety for all — shootings have occurred at schools where armed guards were on duty — Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, is of the mindset that having resource officers at schools with proper security measures is a better starting place to keep children safe. She also advocates having teachers be “much more in tune” with identifying children with mental illness or those who may pose a threat early on, so as to prevent possible tragedy.

PSD has a program that allows educators concerned about a child’s behavior to make a report, after which a psychologist may make an assessment.

Fields, whose son, a Colorado State University student, was shot and killed by a gunman in 2005, said guns have “no place in the classroom” where a child could “snatch it from (a concealed carry holder).” A teachers’ “primary responsibility” should be “teaching, shaping knowledge,” she said, adding: “I just don’t like the idea of Army teachers.”

The proposed bill sparked intense debate among readers. Nearly 100 readers commented on the proposal last week on the Coloradoan’s Facebook page. Of those, 11 were neither apparently for nor against SB 13-009, while 45 were for its installation in local schools and 42 against.

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“I’ll be signing up for it the day it is passed,” wrote Ken Stanton, a teacher at a local charter school, in one post. “I refuse to let my kids be attacked without meeting intense resistance!”

Lindsay Cook, another teacher, wrote: “I already play the role of educator, doctor, psychologist, counselor, parent, nutritionist, confidant, advocate, care giver, etc ... and now you want to add ‘armed guard’ to my list? Better be willing to add to my paycheck as well!”

Poudre School District Interim Superintendent Nancy Wright wasn’t comfortable weighing in on the debate at this time, as she’ll exit the district in several months and hand the reins over to PSD’s next permanent administrator. She believes discussions regarding the issue need to occur among community members whom the legislation would impact.

Since the Sandy Hook tragedy, Obama has called upon Congress to reduce gun violence through proposed background checks on on all gun sales, and bans on military-assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Largely supported by Democrats, including Fields, the efforts have drawn strong opposition from Republicans who view the move as an attack on the constitutional right to bear arms.

Senate Bill 13-009 goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 28. While those interviewed couldn’t say for sure how the cards will fall, it’s unlikely the proposal will become law with Democrats in control of the House and Senate.